SWANAGE Railway volunteers will host a 'Purbeck at War Weekend' to coincide with this year's national Armed Forces Day.

It is hoped the two-day event will also, weather permitting, include two flypasts by a classic World War II Dakota transport aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: "Securing flypasts by a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Dakota painted in D-Day, 1944, colours on both days of our 'Purbeck at War Weekend' is a marvellous tribute to those who played their part for their country - on the battlefield and the home front."

Dakota's were used in paratrooper drops on the eve of D-Day, and to fly casualties back from battlefields in Normandy and Arnhem.

Swanage railway station will be holding a number of displays about the role it played during both world wars, as well a hosting 1940s music and singing. It will also be home to a special photographic exhibition covering Swanage Railway's 31-year association with the Royal Corps of Signals, based at Blandford.

Meanwhile, steam enthusiasts will have the chance to ride on the footplate of a mainline express 'Battle of Britain' class steam locomotive throughout the weekend. The 'Manston' was named after the Kent airfield that played an important part in the Battle of Britain.

Organisers also hope to be able to display a 45-tonne steam-powered crane at the event. This machine was used across the south of England to repair war damage to rail tracks and signalling equipment targeted in German air raids.

Volunteer signalman and modeller Mike Walshaw will also be displaying a model, at Harman's Cross station, depicting a military railway.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28.

Flypasts take place, in an eastwards direction along the course of the Swanage Railway, at 4.45pm on the Saturday and 12.50pm on the Sunday.

The route of the flypast will be Stoborough, Furzebrook, Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage.

Visis swanagerailway.co.uk for further information.